Kolkata: India and Bangladesh implemented the historic Land Boundary Agreement signed between the two countries recently, by exchanging 162 enclaves held between them, ending more than six decades of waiting for citizenship for 51,000 people.

Stateless people in India and Bangladesh attained citizenship 68 years after India achieved freedom.

Hundreds came out of their homes, hoisted the Indian tricolour and danced in joy as the much-awaited exchange of enclaves — 111 from India and 51 from Bangladesh — came into effect.

However, very few people actually changed their citizenship and the people of the enclaves that went to Bangladesh preferred to stay with the country, while the rest with India. According to the 2011 census listed the population in the 111 enclaves as 37,369, and 14,215 in the 51 enclaves.

“After the field survey, none of the residents of the 51 enclaves that joined the Indian republic expressed desire to return to Bangladesh,” said Krishnava Ghosh, a subdivisional officer from Cooch Behar.

While of the 15,000 residents from the 111 enclaves that were expected to become residents of India, only 1,027 joined. Religion and economic exigencies are said to be the reason for the trend.

“India was partitioned in 1947 on religious grounds where Pakistan was for Muslims and India for Hindus. That still played a critical role. Others did not leave since they had agricultural land there and they depended on it for their livelihood,” Diptiman Sengupta, Chief Coordinator of Bharat Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee said.

Many though allege that enclave dwellers in Bangladesh had been threatened and warned not to return to India.

“It would have been a huge embarrassment for Bangladesh government if there was a mass exodus, which is why they are forcing people to stay back,” claimed Debabrata Chaki, adviser, Indian Enclave United Council.

The official exchange of enclaves has begun and the exchange of residents is supposed to end by November.

“Residents who wish to come to India will begin [moving] from November. We are building small dwelling units for those who will be coming from that side,” said Chiranjib Ghosh, Additional District Magistrate of Cooch Behar.

For the people though it was a new lease of life as two generations of people living in those enclaves has suffered inconsolably at the hands of officials of both countries.

“It is very difficult to describe how we feel. For the first time we are feeling like human beings who are not being harassed by officials. Or have to smuggle the very basics of life. I have got a country at the age of 77, but finally I did. Hope no one else will suffer like us,” said Abibur Rahman.